The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-06-12

A planked shad party is in order
any day after the shad first ripen In
the Potomac and before the water
becomes warm enough to drive them
into cooler quarters in the more
northern rivers, but the best time
for it is in the hight of the season,
about the time the leaves of the oak
trees spread themselves. Choose a
warm, sunny day, but be prepared
with waterproofs and umbrellas, to
maintain your philosophy in the
event of a shower. The party must
be congenial-that goes without say
ing-and the hampers and lunch
baskets must be we'll filled, for man
cannot live on shad alone. Then, if
you can charter small steamboat,
or are willing to trust yourself to the
uncertainties of the wind in a sail
boat, the voyage OF fifteen or twenty
miles down the beautiful Potomac to
the fishing grounds will be something
to store in your memory with your
first view OF the Hudson river or OF
Lake George.
A picnic beneath stately trees
overlooking the river, the excite
ment OF seeing the seine drawn, the
selection of some of the finest Of the
shad to be "planked," the fire built
on the ground before the yellow,
perpendicular clay band, the nicely
dressed fish nailed upon the clean
D anks and set up before the blaze
against the bank, and the appetizing
aroma that arises from it as it cooks
will all contribute to that good APP
petite and the sense of self satisfae-
ton and freedom from care that fol-
lows its appeasal that will make you
wish that Westinghouse air brakes
could be placed upon thelhours.
The Washington people whose So
ciety you most enjoy do not fit away
when Congress adjourns. You viii
see them of an evening at the Metro
politan, Jefferson and Cosmos Clubs
and at either OF them you may coun
upon a charming evening. 1t rainet
in torrents the other night, but
found a choice company at the Cos
mos. Prof Marsh, most distin
guished of psychologists and mos
agreeable Of companions, laughed a
the we'll told stories or contributed
his quota. Col. Garrick Mallory
most learned in Indian tongues, sigl
languages and hieroglyphics, related
exciting adventures in the far West
and Capt. Dutton talked earth
auakes. Science aud fun, literatur,
and anecdote make an exceedingl,
palatable compound.
But the most entertaining talker
met there that night was John j
McElhone, chief OF the corps o
shorthand reporters in the House o
Representatives. Few people reall.
know him, and most of those VIII,
think they do, only as the wonderful
shorthand writer who for more thai
a third of a century has, out OF tn
chaos and confusion of the House
evolved accurate and intelliglbl
transcripts of the debates. The!
don't know him as walking CYCLIC
pedia of quaint and curious classica
lore, nor as the witness and some
times participant in the most exeit
ing scenes ever witnessed at the Ma
tional Capital.
So entertaining was he that nigh
that our cougenial circle did no
break up until the wee sma' hours
Late in the evening, when only fou
or five of us were left, chance re
mark called up in the mind OF tn
veteran reporter some scene OF thlrt
years ago. His description was a
fresh and vivid as though the event
he told OF had happened but yester
day. One story led to another, unit
it seemed as though his memory wa
a Photographic plate upon which ha'
been painted in minutest detail ever
scene since 1856, and which had pre-
served every delicate tint of ligh
and shade. Nothing seemed to hay
been forgotten. The public men Q